I think I've worked out a workable schedule. By leaving Xavier around 10 AM I have plenty of time to all sorts of things.

Today it was some grocery shopping. (The cats and the raccoons rather like the regular feeding.) And a schoolday afternoon is relatively uncrowded. Besides, I needed to fill up the gas tank.

I went home, put the cold stuff away, then decided that it was as good an afternoon as any to see if my blood had plenty of iron.

It did, and I donated a pint. They also took some blood to see if I would make a good platelet donor. I've never done that, but basically they take the blood out, remove platelets, then put the remaining blood back in. Blood cannot be purchased at WalMart or the local drugstore--and it doesn't last forever.

I've been donating for almost fifty years. I don't know how many gallons that is, but the current blood bank has gotten more than five gallons from me.

Years ago, when OD had her back surgery, her roommate was getting blood--my type. I've often wondered if it was mine. I had donated just before her surgery. (We're not the same type, but it got replacement credits for her--which weren't really needed, because the company insurance covered blood replacement.)

There is no substitute for real blood. Period. End of discussion.

My type--A-neg--occurs in about 6% of the American population. It evidently occurs in an even smaller percentage of the Kenyan population. They mis-typed my blood and said it was A-pos. I pointed out the error, they redid it, and agreed with me. The doctor said it was extremely rare in that part of the world.

Other than giving something potentially lifesaving to someone at little or no discomfort to me, it was an ordinary day.

I spent a couple of hours after my class getting my course website more up to date. The only thing I have left on that is a revised calendar.

A long-time major politico in the area died this morning. He was Sheriff of Jefferson Parish (adjacent to Orleans) for 28 years. He was a controversial character, but he will be missed. He was diagnosed with Leukemia less than a year ago, and that precipitated his passing.

This being local election season in Louisiana, his passing will possibly extend the election season. He was running unopposed, so a new three-day qualifying period is opening up. The first primary will be at the same time as the run-off for the other state and local offices.

Just had a phone call and my train of thought got derailed. If there was anything significant in that train it will no doubt emerge again.